Slidable jaw ratchet-type wrench



April 21, 1953 P. MIZE ETAL' SLIDABLE JAW RATCHET-TYPE WRENCH Filed Feb. 5. 1952 Fig. 4

Pete Mize C R Buddy Brock mmvroxs.

4 9 I BY WWW ZYMm Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLIDABLE JAW RATCHET-TYPE WRENCH Pete Mize and C R Buddy Brock, ODonnell, Tex.

Application February 5, 1952, Serial No. 270,064

Claims.

The present invention relates to new and use ful improvements in ratchet wrenches and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a tool of this character of the open end type whereby it may be readily used on nuts and bolts located in what are ordinarily considered difficult or inaccessible places.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an open end ratchet wrench of the character described comprising novel means for retaining the tool in engagement with the nut or bolt during the ratcheting operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an open end ratchet wrench which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the slidable jaw in projected or operative position;

Figure 2 is a view substantially similar to Figure 1 but showing the slidable jaw in retracted or inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and,

Figure 4 is a group perspective view of the principal parts constituting the tool.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bar 6 of suitable metal. The forward end portion of the bar 6 is formed to provide a longitudinally projecting fixed or stationary jaw 1. Formed integrally with the inner end portion of the bar 6 is an apertured ear 8. Projecting from the bar 6 at intermediate points are substantially U-shaped guides 9 and I9.

Fixed longitudinally, as by welding, on the bar 6 and extending through the guides 9 and I9 is a fiat spring II. At its forward end, the spring II terminates in an angular resilient jaw I2 which projects beyond the forward end of the bar 6 in spaced, opposed relation to the stationary jaw '1 for receiving a nut therebetween, as at I3.

Slidable on the spring II and operable in the uides 9 and Ill is a metallic bar i4. At its forward end, the bar I4 terminates in a movable or slidable jaw I5. The slidable bar I4 terminates in a right angularly extending inner end portion or arm I6. The guide I0 includes an inclined or diagonally extending bight portion I! with which a cam I8 on the bar I4 is engageable for pressing the slidable jaw I5 toward the stationary jaw I as the bar I4 moves forwardly.

A bellcrank lever I9 is pivotally mounted, as at 20, on the apertured ear 8 of the stationary bar 6. The bellcrank lever I9 includes bifurcations 2| on one end portion which straddle the arm I6 of the slidable bar I4. Extending between the bifurcations 2! are pins 22 between which the arm I5 projects. At its other end, the bellcrank lever I9 terminates in a handle in the form of an eye or ring 23.

It is thought that the operation of the tool will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the slidable jaw I5 in projected or operative position as seen in Fi ure 1 of the drawing, the wrench is applied to the nut I3 and the tool is swung in a clockwise direction. When the lever I9 swings in a clockwise direction on its pivot 20 the bar I4 is moved forwardly by the pins 22 straddling the arm I6, wedging the cam I8 in the guide III for pressing the resilient jaw I2 tightly against one of the facets of the nut I3, thus firmly gripping said nut. When it becomes necessary to obtain a new grip on the nut the lever I9 is swung in a counterclockwise direction on its pivot 20 thus retracting the slidable bar l4 and the jaw I5 for permitting the tool to ratchet. During this ratcheting movement the resilient jaw I2 is in yielding engagement with the nut I3 for retaining the tool in proper engagement with said nut. The lever I9 is then actuated in a clockwise direction again for projecting the slidable jaw I5 to operative position and then swinging the complete assembly for turning the nut.

It is believed that the many advantages of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the tool is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A wrench comprising a stationary bar, a stationary jaw on one end of said bar, a slidable bar on the stationary bar, a slidable jaw on one end of the second-named bar cooperable with the stationary jaw, a lever pivotally mounted on the other end portion of the stationary bar, and means operatively connecting said lever to the second-named bar, said means including an angularly extending arm on the inner end of said second-named bar, bifurcations on the pivoted end portion of the lever straddling said arm, and spaced pins extending between the bifurcations and slidably engageable with opposite sides of the arm for actuating the second-named bar.

2. A ratchet wrench of the character described comprising a stationary bar, a fixed jawon one end of said stationary bar, a slidable bar operable on the stationary bar, a slidable retractable jaw on one end of said slidable bar, a leaf spring fixed longitudinally on the stationary bar between said stationary bar and the slidable bar, a resilient jaw on one end of the spring engageable with for retaining the wrench in engagement therewith when the slidable jaw is in retracted position, and means for actuating the slidable bar.

3. A wrench of the character described comprising a stationary bar, a fixed jaw on one end of said stationary bar, a slidable bar operable on the stationary bar, a slidable jaw on one end of said slidable bar, a leaf spring fixed longitudinally on the stationary bar between said stationary bar and the slidable bar, a resilient jaw on one end of the spring engageable with the nut between the stationary and slidable jaws, and means for actuating the slidable bar, said means including a lever pivotallymountedon the inner end of the stationary bar, bifurcations projecting from the pivoted end portion of said lever, pins extending between said bifurcations, and an angularly extending arm on theinner end of the slidable bar projecting between the bifurcations and the pins for actuation by the lever.

4. A ratchet wrench comprising a stationary bar, a stationary jaw on one end of said bar, substantially U-shaped guides at spaced points on the stationary bar, a slidable bar operable in the 4 guides, a longitudinal leaf spring on the stationary bar between said stationary bar and the slidable bar, a resilient jaw projecting from one end of the spring in spaced, opposed relation to the stationary jaw, a retractable jaw on the slidable bar cooperable with the stationary jaw through the resilient jaw, said resilient jaw being cooperable with said stationary jaw for retaining the wrench in operative engagement with a nut when said retractable jaw is in retracted position, and means for actuating the slidable bar.

5. A wrench comprising a stationary bar, a stationary jaw on one end of said bar, substantially U-shaped guides at spaced points on the stationary bar, a slidable bar operable in the guides, a longitudinal leaf spring on the stationary bar between said stationary bar and the slidable bar, a resilient jaw projecting from one end of the spring in spaced, opposed relation to the stationary jaw, a jaw on the slidable bar cooperable with the stationary jaw through the resilient jaw, and means for actuating the slidable bar, said means including a manually operable lever pivotally mounted on the inner end portion of the stationary bar, bifurcations projecting from the pivoted end portion of said lever, and an arm on the inner end of the slidable bar engaged between the bifurcations and operatively connected thereto.

PETE MIZE. C R BUDDY BROOK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,102 Dixon Sept. 23; 1890 956,128 Mimmack Apr. 26, 1910 1,224,846 Brooks May 1, 1917 1,391,898 Kettler Sept. 27, 1921 0 1,555,652 Frame Sept. 29, 1925 2,369,346 Gearhart Feb. 13, 1945 2,537,860 Root Jan. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Number Country Date 601,047 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1948 

